Payment card overlay skimmer detection

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for detecting credit card skimmers are provided herein. A device can include a printed circuit board having a pattern of electrical traces on its surface, and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to direct an electrical voltage to a trace and detect an electrical current between two points of the trace. A gap can be disposed between the two points across which a voltage is applied in order to detect a magnetic reader. A count of the detected magnetic readers within a credit card reading device may be indicative of the presence of a credit card skimmer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/579,452 filed Oct. 31, 2017, which is hereby incorporated herein inits entirety by reference.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

An example embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method andapparatus for detecting the presence of a magnetic card skimming device,and more particularly, to a method and apparatus to detect the presenceof a magnetic card skimming device in response to insertion into a slotof a payment acceptance apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Electronic commercial transactions using magnetic stripe cards, such ascredit cards and debit cards, have enabled consumers to access financialassets and lines of credit instantaneously in remote locations. However,the rise of electronic transactions has brought new dangers to thesafeguarding of financial and personal data. Adversaries can fabricatecredit card skimmers that have or maintain the appearance of legitimatecard readers to avoid detection. Credit card skimmers can be located atgas stations, supermarkets, and financial institutions. New methods anddevices are required to secure personal and financial information frombeing stolen or replicated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the subject invention provide methods and devices forpersonal and commercial use to detect the presence of credit cardskimmers. Embodiments can include devices including a printed circuitboard (PCB), which can be inserted into a card acceptor. A device cancontain traces that pass over a magnetic read head inside the card slotof the card acceptor. The device can monitor the PCB and alert whenmultiple read heads are detected but not expected. Embodiments of thesubject invention allow consumers, law enforcement, store owners, orothers to test card slots for skimmers before use. Businesses can testdevices on their premises; for example, gas station owners canperiodically test their own pumps.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a device for detectingthe presence of a credit card skimmer including: a PCB comprising apattern of electrical traces on its surface, wherein the PCB isconfigured to be inserted into a credit card reader or scanner; anon-transitory machine-readable medium in operable communication withthe PCB and comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed,cause at least one processor to: direct an electrical voltage to a tracepattern of electrical traces; and detect an electrical current betweentwo points of the trace, wherein the pattern comprises a gap disposedbetween the two points.

According to some embodiments, the PCB may comprise electrical tracesthat are flat. In certain embodiments, the electrical traces may extendbeyond the surface of the PCB. The device for detecting the presence ofa credit card skimmer may further comprise a magnetic stripe componentconfigured to allow the PCB to identify itself to a terminal. In certainembodiments of the present invention, the PCB may be directly connected,for example through a wired connection, to the machine-readable medium.The PCB, according to some embodiments, may further comprise wirelesscircuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to communicatewith the machine-readable medium.

According to some embodiments, the PCB may be configured to be insertedinto a “dip” style reader or a “swipe” style reader. In certainembodiments, the device for detecting the presence of a credit cardskimmer may further comprise circuitry configured to providelocation-based services functionality. According to some embodiments,the PCB may have a credit card shape including a height, width, andthickness all within a range for a typical credit card. The device, insome embodiments, may further comprise a case in which themachine-readable medium is disposed.

The device, in some embodiments, may further comprise a processor inoperable communication with the machine-readable medium, wherein theinstructions stored on the machine-readable medium, when executed, causethe processor to perform the functions of directing an electricalvoltage to a trace of the pattern of electrical traces; and detect anelectrical current between two points of the trace, wherein the patterncomprises a gap disposed between the two points.

According to some embodiments, the device for detecting the presence ofa credit card skimmer may further comprise at least one switch. Incertain embodiments, the switch may further comprise a rocket switch, asingle pole single throw (SPST) switch, or both. The device, accordingto certain embodiments, may further comprise at least one button.According to some embodiments, the at least one button may comprise apushbutton, an up/down button, a light-emitting diode (LED) button, orany combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the device may furthercomprise a display. According to some embodiments, the display may be atouch screen display. In certain embodiments, the display may be anorganic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

According to some embodiments, the device for detecting the presence ofa credit card skimmer may further comprise a power source. In certainembodiments, the power source may be a battery, for example, arechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery. The device, in yetanother example embodiment, wherein the processor, if present, the atleast one switch, if present, the at least one button, if present, thedisplay, if present, and the power source, if present, may be disposedin or on the case.

In another example embodiment, a method for detecting the presence of acredit card skimmer is provided that includes inserting a PCB comprisinga pattern of electrical traces on its surface into a card scanner orreader; applying a voltage to a trace of the pattern of electricaltraces; and detecting a current along two points of the trace, whereinthe pattern of electrical traces comprises a gap, wherein the gap isdisposed between two points, and wherein, if a current is detected alongtwo points of the trace, a read head is detected within the card scanneror reader. Additionally, the method of an example embodiment may furthercomprise determining an appropriate number of read heads associated witha particular card scanner or reader; and comparing the appropriatenumber of read heads to a number of read heads detected.

According to some embodiments of the method for detecting the presenceof a credit card skimmer, the PCB may be configured to be inserted intoa “dip” style reader or a “swipe” style reader. In certain embodiments,the method may further comprise using location-based services todetermine a location of the card scanner or reader. According to someembodiments, the method may further comprise outputting a result of thedetection to a remote device.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method maybe carried out using the device for detecting the presence of a creditcard skimmer including: a PCB comprising a pattern of electrical traceson its surface, wherein the PCB is configured to be inserted into acredit card reader or scanner; a non-transitory machine-readable mediumin operable communication with the PCB and comprising instructionsstored thereon that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:direct an electrical voltage to a trace pattern of electrical traces;and detect an electrical current between two points of the trace,wherein the pattern comprises a gap disposed between the two points.

Example embodiments described herein may provide an apparatus includinga substrate sized to be received within a credit card reader; a circuitdisposed on the substrate, where the circuit includes at least oneelectrical trace including two points on the trace defining a gap therebetween; a processor configured to direct an electrical voltage to theat least one electrical trace and to detect an electrical currentbetween the two points of the trace, where the electrical currentidentifies a magnetic read head; and a communication interfaceconfigured to provide an indication of the presence of a credit cardskimming device within the credit card reader in response to identifyingmore than one magnetic read head within the credit card reader. Thecommunication interface may include a wired or wireless connection to auser device, where the user device includes a display to provide anindication of the presence of the credit card skimming device. Thesubstrate may include a printed circuit board with the circuit printedthereon. The substrate may further include a pressure sensor disposed onthe substrate, where the pressure sensor provides an indication ofapplication of pressure to the pressure sensor in response to the sensorpassing a magnetic read head of the credit card reader, where theprocessor may be configured to establish a number of magnetic read headsin response to the pressure signal from the pressure sensor.

It should be understood that the examples and embodiments describedherein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modificationsor changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in theart and are to be included within the spirit and purview of thisapplication.

All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, andpublications referred to or cited herein (including those in the“References” section, if present) are incorporated by reference in theirentirety, including all figures and tables, to the extent they are notinconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts images of device components according to an embodiment ofthe subject invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate hand-drawn images of printed circuit board(PCB) traces;

FIG. 3 depicts a CAD-generated image of a device according to anembodiment of the subject invention;

FIGS. 4A-4E depict CAD-generated images of PCB traces;

FIG. 5A illustrates a top plate of a case housing a device according toan embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom plate of a case housing a device accordingto an embodiment of the subject invention;

FIGS. 6A-C depict a block diagram flow chart of code operating on adevice according to an embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the subjectinvention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an image of gap in an electrical trace on the face ofthe card according to an embodiment of the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some example embodiments of the present invention will now be describedmore fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodimentsset forth herein; rather, these example embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout. As used herein,the terms “data,” “content,” “information” and similar terms may be usedinterchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, receivedand/or stored in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Embodiments of the subject invention include methods and devices fordetecting the presence of a magnetic stripe skimmer or card skimmingdevice (e.g., a credit/debit card skimmer). A device (e.g., a creditcard-sized device) can be inserted into the slot of a payment cardacceptor. The device can include a printed circuit board (PCB) and canalso include traces that pass over the magnetic read head inside thecard slot. A voltage can be applied to the traces, and the circuit canbe completed as the read head touches a card as it is inserted into theslot of the payment card acceptor. An analysis system can be attached tothe card and can monitor the card, providing one or more alerts whenmultiple read heads are detected but not expected. Additional read headsmay indicate the presence of a skimmer attempting to obtain sensitivecard data. Consumers can use devices and methods of example embodimentsdescribed herein to test card slots for skimmers before use, therebylessening the risk of exposure of a consumer's personal informationstored on a payment card with a magnetic stripe. Devices and methods ofthe subject invention can also be used for commercial purposes (e.g., bya gas station owner to periodically test the pumps) and/or for lawenforcement purposes (e.g., by a police department or sheriff's office).

Skimmer detection systems according to example embodiments may have twoprimary components, which may exist as a single physical device, asmultiple devices, or via a hardware/software combination (e.g., aphysical device and an app on a smartphone). The system may include acard-shaped apparatus (that can be referred to as a “detection card” ofthe system) that can be inserted into a card acceptor slot on a devicethat reads magnetic stripe cards, such as an ATM or payment terminal.The terminal may include a magnetic read head to read magnetic stripecards.

The detection card of systems described herein may have a pattern ofelectrical traces on its surface which may be flat or extend beyond thesurface of the device. An electrical charge may be applied to thesetraces, and as the card passes through the slot, the terminal's readhead passes over and touches the detection card. Certain embodiments maycontain vastly different trace patterns 280 depending on the expecteddevices the detection card will be inserted into (see, for example,FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4A-4E). Upon touching the detection card, a circuitmay be completed, passing electrical current over the read head to theremaining traces on the detection card.

The detection card may have additional functionality, including amagnetic stripe component, allowing the detection card to identifyitself to a terminal. Such a system would allow the terminal to log whenit has been last examined and which specific detection card performedthe test. Other functionality might include the use of accelerometers toautomatically determine when the card is being inserted into a terminaland whether or not the terminal is a “swipe” reader or a “dip” reader.

The second component can be an analysis system 320 running either assoftware on a wireless or wired connected platform (e.g., a remoteserver, a smartphone app, connected via Bluetooth or USB) or as adedicated device that monitors the traces of the detection card. Usingan algorithmic approach (see, for example, FIGS. 6A-6C), the device candetermine if the detection card has touched a magnetic read head.

With this approach, the device of example embodiments can determine thenumber of read heads the card has touched. If the number of detectedread heads is above an expected value, the system can alert the userthat an additional read head (e.g., a card skimmer) is present. Theanalysis system 320, which may be built into the physical detection carditself or a separate device or software, can contain additional hardwareto record additional data about the system, including but not limitedto: pump (e.g. gas station) or terminal number; position coordinates;and terminal type (dip or swipe).

Embodiments of the subject invention may include a PCB (e.g., acustom-shaped PCB, for example, in the shape of a credit card) andadditional hardware for processing. Referring to FIG. 1, the hardwarecan include a processor 120, switches 130, buttons, lighted buttons(e.g., LED buttons), a display (e.g., an OLED display), and a powersource 140 (e.g., a battery). The switch can include, for example,rocker switches, and/or single pole, single throw (SPST) switches. Thebuttons can include, for example, pushbuttons (e.g., aluminum circularpushbuttons), up/down buttons, and/or LED buttons.

The traces on the PCB can be aligned with the locations of the tracks onmagnetic stripe cards. There may be a small break or gap in the tracesat each track location. The small break or gap in the traces on the PCBmay be aligned with track 1, 2, 3 of a magnetic stripe card, or anycombination thereof. As seen in FIG. 8, the small break or gap 810 maybe situated on a PCB to correspond to track 1, 2, or 3 of a magneticstripe card. The small break or gap in the traces of the PCB can be aphysical break or gap that separates two traces aligned along a track.In other embodiments, the small break or gap can include a region of thetrace that includes non-conductive material. When the detection card isinserted into a magnetic stripe reader, upon making contact with amagnetic read head, the break can be bridged, thereby completing thecircuit. It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that adistance of the gap between two portions of a trace can vary. The lengthof the gap can be a distance that prevents or inhibits a signal passingfrom a first portion of the trace to the second portion of the trace.The length of the gap can be a distance permitting the magnetic readhead to form a bridge between the first portion and the second portionof the trace. The bridge may permit a signal to pass between the firstportion, through the bridge, and to the second portion of the trace,thereby completing an electrical circuit. In certain embodiments, thedistance of the gap between the two portions of the trace can 2millimeters or less. The hardware may be configured to apply a steadydirect current (DC) voltage to the card and observe if at any point thecircuit on the card is complete. Each time that the break is bridged maybe an indication to the analysis system that the card has come intocontact with a magnetic read head. The analysis system can process thesesignals and determine if any additional read heads were found in themagnetic stripe card reader. The PCB may vary in dimensions and tracesin order to fit into a magnetic stripe card reader and send a signal tothe hardware upon making contact with a magnetic read head. The hardwaremay vary, as long as it accomplishes the tasks previously outlined.

In an embodiment of the subject invention, a stand-alone device may becapable of detecting overlay skimmers in magnetic stripe card readers.As seen in FIG. 3, a PCB 310 in the shape of a magnetic stripe card canbe connected to an analysis system 320. Global positioning system (GPS)functionality and/or data logging functionality may be included, as cana processor 120. A battery 140, which can be connected to a chargingcircuit to allow a user to charge the device, may be included to providepower.

A power switch that turns on the device may be provided and located, forexample, on an upper left side of the device. A display screen (e.g., anOLED screen) may be in operable communication with the processor 120.Such a display can be located, for example, on the upper face of thedevice and may be illuminated such as to prompt the user with the optionof visible instructions, though embodiments are not limited thereto. Thedisplay may be a touch screen display. The OLED display can beconfigured to display, for example, 128×32 pixels.

Turning to FIGS. 6A-6C, an algorithmic approach is described whichallows the device to determine if the detection card has touched amagnetic read head.

A user may cause a list of instructions to be displayed by pressing abutton at step 610 which may be located on the outside of the devicecase 510 (see, for example, FIGS. 5A and 5B). After the introductorytext 605, a device main menu can be displayed at step 615 with agraphical user interface (GUI). The menu can display a variety ofinformation to the user. Battery information may be displayed to alertthe user that the battery is running low on power. The battery can be,for example, a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The device mode canalso be displayed, for example to indicate whether the PCB is beinginserted into a “dip” style reader or a “swipe” style reader. Therefore,the user may select which type of reader mode is being tested. In orderto change the mode, a user can use, for example, a small toggle switch,which can be located, for example, on the bottom of the device case. Themode switch can be an SPST switch, or a side switch. The mode switch maybe connected to voltage high and a pin allowing the processor todetermine the mode based upon the pin state. Variables 603 such as a gaspump number 601 and GPS information 602 may also be present. A gas pumpnumber 601 can be displayed for when a user is attempting to do a fullevaluation of all gas pumps at a gas station. The pump number can bechanged by using the user interface which may include buttons, which canbe located, for example, on the left side of the device case. The GPSstatus can be displayed to inform the user if the device was able tosuccessfully triangulate the current location via GPS. Theaforementioned features may optionally be included on some exampleembodiments of the system described herein.

An LED button on the device, which can be located above the mode toggleswitch, may illuminate to indicate that the device is operational. TheLED button can be, for example, a pushbutton (e.g., a 16-mm pushbutton)or an SPTS (single pole toggle switch) button. Upon pressing the buttonat step 620, the device may enter Detection Mode at step 625 and beginreading voltages from the card and the LED on the button may optionallyblink periodically to indicate operation. The user can insert thedetection card into a magnetic stripe reader and remove the card fromthe reader.

While in Detection Mode, the algorithmic process continues (B) to FIG.6B where a Read Head Counter 635 is set to 0 and voltages are read fromthe card at step 640. At step 645, the voltage readings are added to anarray. The array size is then checked against a sample size 647 at step650. If the array size is equal to the sample size 647, the processcontinues to step 655, where a voltage is determined by a calculation ofaverage voltage over sample size. At step 660, the voltage is checkedagainst a threshold voltage 648. If the voltage is not greater than thethreshold voltage 648, the array is cleared at step 665 and the processreturns to step 640. However, if the voltage is greater than thethreshold voltage 648, the Read Head Counter 635 is incremented at step670.

Upon removal of the detection card from the magnetic stripe reader, theuser can press the button again at step 630 to terminate detection. Thealgorithmic process then continues (A) to FIG. 6C. Using the Read HeadCounter 635 (D), the processor may determine if any skimmers were foundin the reader at step 675. The mode variable 677 may be checked at step680 to see if the device is in “swipe” or “dip” mode. If the device isin swipe mode, the Read Head Counter constants may be divided by two inorder to determine if a skimmer is present. As shown in step 681, tworead head constants indicates normality, and four read head constantsindicate the likely presence of a credit card skimmer. The results,along with GPS data, mode, and pump number or terminal number, may berecorded to an internal memory, such as an SD card or flash memory atstep 685 and may be displayed on the screen at step 690. The resultsscreen may then be dismissed by pressing a button, which may be locatedon the higher of the two side buttons on the left side of the box.Pressing this button may return the user to the main screen (C) and theprocess can then be repeated. While an example embodiment of a cardskimmer detector device may store locally information related todetected card skimmers or lack thereof and associated card swipingdevices, example embodiments may optionally be configured to transmitvia wired or wireless connection such information. This information maycreate an audit trail of the card swipe/payment devices and when theyhave been inspected, together with the results. Further, the audit trailcreated in this manner may be centrally stored to provide a database ofaudit trails in the event a card skimmer or plurality of card skimmersare detected at a specific location or across a geographic region. Theaforementioned features may optionally be included on some exampleembodiments of the system described herein.

While the above described embodiment uses electrical connections tofunction as the read head counter, an optional embodiment, which may beused in conjunction with the aforementioned embodiment or independentlythereof, may include pressure sensors or transducers to count the numberof read heads present in the card reader. These pressure sensors maygenerate a signal when a force satisfying a predetermined value isobserved. Such sensors would allow the detection card to determine whena read head is pressed against it, thereby sending a signal to theprocessing unit. Such a signal would be processed in a manner similar tothose described above with respect to the electrical contact method ofdetermining read heads. This method of using pressure sensors ortransducers may be used in conjunction with the electrical contactmethod for additional feedback that can be used as quality control or toprovide an increased level of confidence with respect to the number ofread heads determined.

A schematic circuit diagram of a device of an embodiment of the subjectinvention is illustrated in FIG. 7. In an example embodiment, a devicemay be limited to informing the user if an additional read head wasfound for simplicity. A casing can cover the components on the card andmay include a plurality of LEDS that may be configured to indicate if askimmer was detected, if there was an error in detection, or if thedetection process is functioning properly. The device may include aprocessor and a battery that can be connected to a charging circuit,allowing the user to charge the device, such as using a micro USB, forexample.

An example embodiment of a method of operation with respect to anexample apparatus is described herein. According to the exampleembodiment, the device may include a small toggle switch that may causethe device to be turned on. The LED or LEDs (e.g., three LEDs) mayilluminate in a specific pattern or sequence when the device is ready.The toggle switch may be a pushbutton SPST switch, or a surface mounteddevice. The toggle switch may further be connected to ground and a pin.The LEDs may, for example, illuminate in different colors, be connectedto a pin, and have an operating voltage of about 3 to 6 volts. A secondswitch may be located on the back of the case, which can be used to setthe mode. Upon pressing a pushbutton next to the switches, the LEDs maybegin to blink. The detection card can be inserted into the magneticstripe reader and removed from the reader. The processor 120 maydetermine the number of detected read heads and provide an indication ofthe number of detected read heads, such as using a number of LEDs thatcorresponds to the calculated results. The corresponding LED may thenturn off, followed by all of the LEDs turning back on indicating thedevice is ready to operate.

In another embodiment, a device can be similar to the design discussedabove, but the mode switch, LEDs, and button can be removed and replacedwith circuitry configured to transmit information wirelessly, forexample including a Bluetooth module. By replacing the components, thesize of the device can be reduced as the only remaining hardwarecomponents can be the wireless circuitry, processor, battery, andcharging circuit.

The device may connect with an application, including a mobile deviceapplication. The user may connect to the device with a smartphone orother mobile device and control the settings and detection via anapplication and the user interface of the smartphone or other mobiledevice. The results may be sent back to the application and displayed ona screen for the user. The results may be recorded with location andtime by using the capabilities on the connected devices.

The device of example embodiments may operate as follows by firstturning the power of the device on. The screen may become visible anddisplay text. The initial text may be dismissed and instructionsrequested. An LED indicating that the device is in operation may beilluminated. A first prompt may request a gas pump number or paymenttransaction device identification. The value can be input through a userinterface such as a virtual keyboard or using directional buttonslocated on the device. The status of the GPS module may be displayed. Ifthe device is properly connected to GPS satellites, the status mayindicate that the device is connected and a location is determined. Ifthe device is not receiving signals from GPS satellites, the status mayindicate that the device is searching for a GPS signal or is unable toconnect. A mode of the device may be displayed on the screen, forexample “dip” or “swipe” type payment transaction device. The mode mayoptionally indicate the type of credit card reader being processed. Themode may be changed through a user interface, such as a virtual keyboardor a switch, which may be located on the face of the device proximate abottom of the device. The battery life may also be displayed on thescreen. The device may be charged through a mini USB cable and astandard phone charger, for example, to provide a convenient andubiquitous power source. To begin the detection process, a user canpress a button, which may be located at a center of the device. Thebutton may produce a visible blinking signal to indicate that the deviceis in a detection mode. A user can insert and remove the PCB into a cardreader. After removing the detection card, a user may press the buttonagain. The device may then display the results of the detection processon the screen. The device may detect skimmers on both the left and rightside of the credit card reader. The results for both sides of thedetection card may be displayed on the screen. The sides can beidentified as “text side” and “blank side.” The possible results thatcan be received are as follows: (1) no skimmers detected: the detectorfound that the reader is properly operating for this side; (2) possibleskimmer detected: the detector found that the reader may have a skimmerattached (if this result is received, a user can run another detectionto verify this result; (3) error try again: something went wrong withthe detection; or (4) nothing detected: the detector found that thisside is not configured to read credit cards at all.

After completing the detection process, the user may flip the detectioncard with the PCB over and run the detection again for the bottom sideof the credit card reader. After running the detection process for bothsides of the card, the user can move on to another card reader andrepeat the detection process.

The methods and processes described herein may be embodied as codeand/or data. The software code and data described herein may be storedon one or more machine-readable media (e.g., computer-readable media),which may include any device or medium that can store code and/or datafor use by a computer system. When a computer system and/or processorreads and executes the code and/or data stored on a computer-readablemedium, the computer system and/or processor performs the methods andprocesses embodied as data structures and code stored within thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatcomputer-readable media include removable and non-removablestructures/devices that can be used for storage of information, such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, andother data used by a computing system/environment. A computer-readablemedium includes, but is not limited to, volatile memory such as randomaccess memories (RAM, DRAM, SRAM); and non-volatile memory such as flashmemory, various read-only-memories (ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM), magneticand ferromagnetic/ferroelectric memories (MRAM, FeRAM), and magnetic andoptical storage devices (hard drives, magnetic tape, CDs, DVDs); networkdevices; or other media now known or later developed that is capable ofstoring computer-readable information/data. Computer-readable mediashould not be construed or interpreted to include any propagatingsignals. A computer-readable medium of the subject invention can be, forexample, a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), flash memorydevice, volatile memory, or a hard disk drive (HDD), such as an externalHDD or the HDD of a computing device, though embodiments are not limitedthereto. A computing device can be, for example, a laptop computer,desktop computer, server, cell phone, or tablet, though embodiments arenot limited thereto.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for detecting the presence of acredit card skimmer, the device comprising: a printed circuit board(PCB) comprising a pattern of electrical traces on its surface, whereinthe PCB is configured to be insertable into a credit card reader orscanner; and a non-transitory machine-readable medium in operablecommunication with the PCB and comprising instructions stored thereonthat, when executed, cause at least one processor to: direct anelectrical voltage to a trace of the pattern of electrical traces, anddetect an instance of electrical current between two points of the tracein response to the presence of a read head providing an electricalcontact between the two points of the trace, wherein the patterncomprises a gap disposed between the two points; increment a counterbased on a number of detected instances of electrical current betweenthe two points of the trace; identify a mode of detection comprising aswipe mode or a dip mode; identify a number of read heads based on thedetected number of instances of electrical current between the twopoints of the trace in response to the mode of detection beingidentified as swipe mode; identify a number of read heads based on thedetected number of instances of electrical current between the twopoints of the trace divided by two in response to the mode of detectionbeing identified as dip mode; and a communication interface configuredto providing an indication of the presence of a credit card skimmingdevice within the credit card reader in response to identifying morethan one magnetic read head within the credit card reader.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the electrical traces are flat.
 3. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the electrical traces extend beyondthe surface of the PCB.
 4. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a magnetic stripe component configured to allow the PCB toidentify itself to a terminal.
 5. The device according to claim 1,wherein the PCB is directly connected to the machine-readable medium. 6.The device according to claim 1, wherein the PCB further compriseswireless circuitry, and wherein the wireless circuitry is configured tocommunicate with the machine-readable medium.
 7. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the PCB further comprises an accelerometer, and isconfigured to automatically identify a dip mode from insertion into a“dip” style reader and a swipe mode from insertion in a “swipe” stylereader based on a signal from the accelerometer.
 8. The device accordingto claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to providelocation-based services functionality.
 9. The device according to claim1, wherein the PCB has a credit card shape.
 10. The device according toclaim 1, further comprising a case in which the machine-readable mediumis disposed.
 11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: aprocessor in operable communication with the machine-readable medium,wherein the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium, whenexecuted, cause the processor to direct the electrical voltage anddetect the electrical current between the two points; at least oneswitch; at least one button; a display; and a power source.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein the processor, the at least oneswitch, the at least one button, the display, and the power source aredisposed in or on the case.
 13. A method for detecting the presence of acredit card skimmer, the method comprising: inserting a printed circuitboard (PCB) comprising a pattern of electrical traces on its surfaceinto a card scanner or reader; applying a voltage to a trace of thepattern of electrical traces; and detecting a current along two pointsof the trace; wherein the pattern of electrical traces comprises a gap;wherein the gap is disposed between the two points; and wherein, inresponse to a current being detected along two points of the trace,increment a read head counter to identify a number of instances ofelectrical current detected along the two points of the trace identify amode of detection comprising a swipe mode or a dip mode; identify anumber of read heads based on the identified number of instances ofelectrical current between the two points of the trace in response tothe mode of detection being identified as swipe mode; identify a numberof read heads based on the identified number of instances of electricalcurrent between the two points of the trace divided by two in responseto the mode of detection being identified as dip mode; and providing,via a communication interface, an indication of the presence of a creditcard skimming device within the credit card reader in response toidentifying more than one magnetic read head within the credit cardreader.
 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprisingdetermining an appropriate number of read heads associated with aparticular card scanner or reader; and comparing the appropriate numberof read heads to a number of read heads detected.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein the PCB further comprises anaccelerometer, and is configured to automatically identify a dip modefrom insertion into a “dip” style reader and a swipe mode from insertionin a “swipe” style reader based on a signal from the accelerometer. 16.The method according to claim 13, further comprising usinglocation-based services to determine a location of the card scanner orreader.
 17. The method according to claim 13, further comprisingoutputting a result of the detection to a remote device.
 18. Anapparatus comprising: a substrate sized to be received within a creditcard reader; a circuit disposed on the substrate, wherein the circuitcomprises at least one electrical trace comprising two points on thetrace defining a gap there between; a processor configured to direct anelectrical voltage to the at least one electrical trace and to detect anelectrical current between the two points of the trace, wherein theelectrical current identifies a magnetic read head; increment a counterbased on a number of detected number of instances of electrical currentbetween the two points of the trace; identify a mode of detectioncomprising a swipe mode or a dip mode; identify a number of read headsbased on the detected number of instances of electrical current betweenthe two points of the trace in response to the mode of detection beingidentified as swipe mode; and identify a number of read heads based onthe detected number of instances of electrical current between the twopoints of the trace divided by two in response to the mode of detectionbeing identified as dip mode; and a communication interface configuredto provide an indication of the presence of a credit card skimmingdevice within the credit card reader in response to identifying morethan one magnetic read head within the credit card reader.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, wherein the communication interface comprises awired or wireless connection to a user device, wherein the user devicecomprises a display to provide an indication of the presence of thecredit card skimming device.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein thesubstrate comprises at least one pressure sensor disposed thereon,wherein the pressure sensor is configured to provide an indication ofapplication of pressure to the pressure sensor in response to the sensorpassing a magnetic read head of the credit card reader, wherein theprocessor is configured to establish a number of magnetic read heads inresponse to pressure signal from the pressure sensor.